RIYADH – The spokesman of the Coalition Forces Col. Turki Al-Malki stressed that the Iran-backed Houthi militias have tampered with the capabilities of the Yemeni state and marginalized all segments of the society.

Col. Al-Malki said this at a press conference at the Armed Forces Club in Riyadh, which was attended by a number of Sheikhs (tribal leaders) of Saadah tribes, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said Monday.

Col. Al-Malki said that everyone knows and has seen the violations committed by Houthi militias every day against the Yemeni people, adding that there is a public rejection of the sabotage and sectarian acts being committed by Houthi militias.

For his part, Sheikh Abdulkhaliq Bishr said that despite the passage of more than a decade and a half of the conflict with the Iranian militias, the people of Saadah Province are still making all kinds of sacrifices, pointing out that Saadah is resisting so as to preserve its Arabism and reject Iranian interference.

Sheikh Bishr paid tribute to the heroes of the Yemeni National Army and the supporting forces of the Coalition for their sacrifices, urging the legitimate elected government represented by President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi as well as the Coalition supporting the legitimacy to continue the battle to liberate the Saadah Province and Yemen.

Col. Al-Malki said that Gen. Prince Fahd Bin Turki Bin Abdulaziz, commander of the Joint Forces, had met with the Sheikhs of Saadah to discuss many issues of interest to the people of Saadah Province and to set up a mechanism for communication with the Joint Forces.

On the political aspect, Col. Al-Malki lauded the call of the Yemeni Prime Minister Dr. Ahmed Obaid Bin Daghr to give the political efforts priority to achieve peace and a peaceful transition of power in Yemen. He said the Coalition Forces’ position is in support of this call, and the Yemeni government’s rejection of the interference by terrorist Hezbollah of Lebanon in support of the Houthis in Yemen.

On the humanitarian situation, he said that as many as 22 relief inlets are still functioning with the number of permits issued by the Coalition since March 26, 2015 to July 16, 2018 reaching 27,471 through air, land and sea inlets.

He said KSrelief has provided assistance benefiting 5,116,579 people within 174 days.

He underscored the importance of Aden Port nowadays, classified as among the world's best five natural ports followed by Hodeidah.

Al-Malki said the Houthi militias continued their violations of the humanitarian law.

On the operational situation, he said a missile platform in Saadah Province, Sahar directorate, was attacked, a number of supply lines destroyed, and the western part of Hodeidah well controlled.

The Yemeni army has made great strides in Al-Joaf Province, with the assistance of the Coalition Forces, which together liberated a number of posts, including Al-Rasaa'a heights, Al-Qarya, Al-Sidq mountains, Al-Khalal, Al-Galaa, and Heran hills.

He said the National Army, supported by the popular resistance and the Coalition Forces, is controlling Hodeidah Airport and is in the process of demining the area to pave the way for humanitarian operations.

He said three ballistic missiles were launched from inside Yemen (Saadah) between July 9-16, bringing the total number of ballistic missiles to 161 and the number of projectiles launched towards Saudi Arabia by the Iran-backed Houthi militias to 66,339.

He added that the losses of the Houthi militias amounted to 247 including sites, weapons and equipment with 703 Houthi militias killed in action. – SPA